2017 Subaru Impreza Long-Term Road Test

Where Did We Drive It?
In addition to the typical commuting duties, our long-term 2017 Subaru Impreza made two round trips from L.A. to San Diego, another to Laguna Beach and one more up to the desert. In the process, we crested the midway milestone of 10,000 miles just a few weeks after we passed the six-month mark in our test. Along the way, we gained a few more insights from the staff.

Where Did We Drive It?
What happens when you use our 2017 Subaru Impreza as a commute vehicle numerous times at the height of Los Angeles gridlock? Your mpg continues to drop and you get to know the vehicle really well, both the good and bad. Road Test Editor Calvin Kim alluded to the "wonky infotainment system" last month, and Senior Writer Carlos Lago and I can further attest to the wonkiness with said system using our Google Pixel phones.

Infotainment system aside, the Impreza impressed others in many ways. One of our freelance contributors, who owns a previous-generation Impreza, noted the improvement in the current car's interior quality. He was also happy with more interior room, a larger infotainment display, and the better leather and soft-touch materials used throughout.

Where Did We Drive It?
Our 2017 Subaru Impreza had a relatively uneventful August. It saw a lot of city commuting from numerous drivers, and we have some differing opinions. Some of our drivers are finally sampling its driver assist functions and infotainment system, and yes, the infotainment setup is still acting wonky. At this point, the new-car smell is gone, and our normal cadre of drivers are starting to have other thoughts about our little blue sedan.

Where Did We Drive It?
This July, our 2017 Subaru Impreza made the trip out to our Fresno branch office where it spent most of the month with Senior Editor Brent Romans handling both long and short commutes. So if you've ever wondered what Senior Editor Brent Romans thinks about our Impreza, you're in luck.

The Subaru continues to have its ups and downs, remaining likable if imperfect. Keep reading to find out what Senior Editor Brent Romans liked and what he thinks needs improvement.

Where Did We Drive It?
This month, the staff sentiment seems to be split when it comes to our 2017 Subaru Impreza's transmission. Some find the Subie's continuously variable automatic transmission's habit of simulating gear ratios more favorable to the usual unrelenting buzz of more traditional CVTs while others think it defeats the purpose of having a CVT in the first place. One thing we all can agree on, though, is that our Impreza's fuel economy has been somewhat of a disappointment. This looks like a familiar story from 2012.

We logged just shy of 1,000 miles, mostly around town, compared to nearly 2,000 miles last month. Dan Edmunds, our vehicle testing director, ventured out to historic Route 66 for a weekend, while Senior Writer Carlos Lago expanded his horizons at the local Yogurtland — he highly recommends the salted caramel pecan.

Where Did We Drive It?
Not everyone on the Edmunds team has had a chance to sit behind the wheel of our newish long-term 2017 Subaru Impreza, yours truly included, but the overall sentiment continues to be favorable. Solid build quality and a nicely executed infotainment system are the predominant observations. What hasn't impressed us about this Impreza? There are a few surprises in the comments below, but mainly it's fuel economy.

Road Test Editor Calvin Kim logged some solid highway miles driving from our offices in Santa Monica to Flagstaff, Arizona. Despite traveling nearly 1,000 miles on the highway, our fuel economy average didn't improve. Senior Consumer Advice Editor Ron Montoya was able to utilize the Subie's rear seat to safely transport a 10-year-old 40-inch Samsung flatscreen across the city of L.A. Of note, Ron says anything bigger likely wouldn't have fit, especially if you stand the television up as the manufacturer recommends.

Where Did We Drive It?
This is the first monthly update for our long-term 2017 Subaru Impreza since the Introduction went live, which makes it a little special. We were still getting to know our Impreza in April, so you'll find a number of first impressions in the comments below. The Impreza definitely made the rounds this month, heading deep into Orange County with Editor Dan Frio and way up north to Fresno with Editor Brent Romans.

So far, we've been impressed by the responsive handling and user-friendly touchscreen interface, and multiple editors have said they simply like the car — there's something fundamentally endearing about it. We're not sold on the powertrain, however, from the underwhelming 2.0-liter flat-four engine to the uninspiring continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Maybe it'll grow on us, but at this point in the long-term Civic's test, we were already raving about the Honda's turbocharged performance. Also of note, both Frio and Romans called out the Impreza's sunroof shade — not usually a hot topic among vehicle testers — for its substandard construction.

Compact sedans are a popular choice for car buyers who want a fuel-efficient car that's easy to drive. Within that class, the Subaru Impreza has long been the offbeat choice because of its quirky styling, horizontally opposed engine, tight cabin and standard all-wheel drive. A full redesign for 2017 has brought the Impreza closer to the mainstream, though. The cabin is roomier, and new exterior styling gives the Impreza a more sophisticated look. It still comes standard with all-wheel drive, but the fuel economy penalty has been significantly reduced thanks to improved engine technology.

There are now four levels of trim for the Impreza. We chose to go with the top-of-the-line Limited trim in order to put the Impreza on the same level as our recently departed Honda Civic sedan. Like all Imprezas for 2017, the Limited comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable automatic transmission comes standard.